New to the area

[durantmatt]

I moved up here about four months ago and have fished a bit near Dexter, Lookout, and Fall Creek. I've heard there are some great bass locations on the Willamette. Anyone willing to give up some info on a couple locations that aren't private for a shore fisher?

Thanks,

Matt

 

[ProfessorChromology]

Davis Lake in Central Oregon. Huge bass from the rocks at the North end of the lake. Flyfishing only however. Not many places where you don't need a boat for bass in this state. Get a floattube and you can fish for smallmouth on the Umpqua all summer long. That is a kick in the pants. Welcome to Oregon!

 

[durantmatt]

A co-worker has been telling me about Davis lake. Huge rainbows and bass. Is there much room to fly fish at Davis from shore? Or would it be wise to bring my floattube?

 

[ProfessorChromology]

Float tube would make it easier to get out a bit, but when the lake opens up the fish come close to shore to begin the spawn phases. It's fun to sneak up on them from the rocks. Wear camo. Seriously. Remember flyfishing only on that lake. This link is to my website and if you scroll down, you'll see my biggest Oregon bass. I guessed it was over 8 lbs. No scale and only one photo because I let him/her go immediately.

 

[durantmatt]

Quite the belly on that toad! Obviously my 3 wt won't be going on my trip to Davis. I've only caught a few bass on the fly, a popper, what is a good fly for out there?

 

[ProfessorChromology]

Something with some girth and length. I used an olive woolhead sculpin about four inches long with olive/tan bunny tail. Long leader so it gets down there. Hard to cast, but very effective. I'm sure any streamers would be effective if you are early in the day and no one is pounding them. I'm in AZ for the BCS and I don't know when the Lake opens officially or if it's even iced over. Check the regs. Have fun!

Crane Prairie also has largemouth in it and you can hike the shorelines early in the year there as well. Or float tube around the stumps. Tight lines!

 

[durantmatt]

You're a lucky SOB! thanks for the info, and maybe I'll see you out there, I'm sure I'll be there a lot fishing the other small lakes around.

GO DUCKS!

 

[fishingfreak]

You're a lucky SOB! thanks for the info, and maybe I'll see you out there, I'm sure I'll be there a lot fishing the other small lakes around.

GO DUCKS!

Welcome to OFF and to Oregon. I second The GO DUCKS!

 

[troutdude]

Welcome to our marvelous forum, and to my home state of 5 decades.

There are some bass, in the Radio Tower pond right behind Autzen Stadium (part of Alton Baker Canal).

And, I think that you will like this ODFW link, which includes Fern Ridge Reservoir. Bass are found in the Long Tom river too (from the outlet at Fern Ridge all of the way to the mouth).

ODFW Warmwater Fishing

Happy Trails,

TD

P.S. Here is the link to ODFW's "Weekly Recreation Report" for the Willamette (Willy) Valley. The report is updated each Wednesday or Thursday.

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/RR/willamette/

 

[TTFishon]

Do you practice C&R or CPR?

 

[durantmatt]

I've been apart of OFF since June, and have lived in Oregon for 17 years, buri appreciate the welcoming. I've fished fern ridge where the amazon canal spills in near the ski slalom course, caught a 4+, 5+, and a bunch of little guys. I'll have to look into the radio tower pond, and the website link is very useful.

 

[durantmatt]

Catch and release or catch, picture, release, is that what those mean?

 

[TTFishon]

Yep

 

[TTFishon]

Catch and release or catch, picture, release, is that what those mean?

So...do you practice these?

 

[durantmatt]

So...do you practice these?

Yeah, why?

 

[TTFishon]

Yeah, why?

Because I don't like giving up my bass holes to people who could easily fish them out by keeping their catch. I know it sounds kind of selfish or d...headish but that's just the way I am.

 

[Drew9870]

I second the Crane Prairie advice, you would need a little more than a 3wt to tackle any of those Trout around all the snags though, Crane Prairie is one of my favorite lakes.

The Willamette will be tough to fish from the shore this time of year, but about mid-late Spring you can find a lot of Smallmouth around the slack water and if you can find a tributary flowing into calmer water you can expect the fish to pile in this area throughout the Summer since a lot of Shiners and other minnows will school up and stay close to the most oxygenated area. Fishing around rocky structure will be your best bet if you're fishing the main river once the water drops.

 

[durantmatt]

Because I don't like giving up my bass holes to people who could easily fish them out by keeping their catch. I know it sounds kind of selfish or dickheadish but that's just the way I am.

I always catch and release bass. The only fish I have kept is steelhead. And it's not selfish or d...headish at all, I'm the same exact way.

 

[fishingfreak]

Gentlemen,

Lets watch our language please. There are young impressionable children on our forum.

Thanks,

FF